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Trump's Bill Could Move Space Shuttle Discovery to Texas
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, JUL 3 – The tax bill allocates $85 million to move Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston despite Smithsonian's $300 million cost estimate and relocation risks, driven by Texas senators' efforts.
- On Tuesday, the Senate approved President Trump's $4.5 trillion tax and spending package, which includes $85 million allocated for transferring the Space Shuttle Discovery to Space Center Houston.
- The Discovery Relocation Act, proposed by Senators from Texas, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, emphasized that Houston’s prominent role in spaceflight history justifies the city hosting the Space Shuttle Discovery.
- Discovery, retired in 2011 after 39 missions and currently on display at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center, flew more miles than any other shuttle and supported key missions like launching the Hubble Telescope.
- The Smithsonian estimates moving Discovery would cost $300 million or more and poses risks of damage during transport, but a vendor experienced in heavy equipment estimated $5 to $8 million for the move.
- The relocation could recognize Houston’s historic role in human spaceflight, but NASA’s budget faces steep cuts with over $3.4 billion slashed from science funding, raising uncertainties about program priorities.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Do we really need to spend $85-400 million to move a Space Shuttle to Houston?
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Cruz scores billions for NASA
ORLANDO, Fla. — When President Donald Trump floated his budget for NASA for 2026, it slashed the science budget by half; proposed the end of the Artemis program’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and Gateway lunar station; and cut back support of the International Space Station. Read more...
"Bring the Shuttle Home Bill" is supposed to bring the Discovery back to Houston. What it costs and how it works is open
Trump’s big bill has billions added for Artemis, KSC and moving a space shuttle
When President Trump floated his budget for NASA for 2026, it slashed the science budget by half, proposed the end of the Artemis program’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and Gateway lunar station, and cut back support of the International Space Station. While Congress will ultimately decide which programs get funded in the federal government’s budget, that may not happen for months. Instead of waiting, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took…
Texas would get iconic space shuttle Discovery from Smithsonian under Trump’s budget bill
By Sarah Bahari, The Dallas Morning News DALLAS — The Smithsonian could lose the iconic space shuttle Discovery to Texas as part of President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill. The Senate narrowly passed Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Tuesday with a provision setting aside $85 million to move Discovery to Space Center Houston. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans, are pushing for the move and lauded its passage this wee…
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